The Best Glam Metal Bassists Of All Time Ranked

Glam metal suffered a decline in popularity in the early-mid 1990s, as the grunge and alternative phenomena revolutionized hard rock, and fans’ tastes moved toward a more natural and stripped-down aesthetic and a rejection of the glam metal visual style. During this period, many of the most successful acts of the genre’s 1980s pinnacle suddenly found themselves facing disbandment as their audiences moved in another direction. Glam metal has experienced a resurgence since the late 1990s, with successful reunion tours of many popular acts from the genre’s 1980s heyday, as well as the emergence of new, predominantly European bands, including the Darkness, Crashdiet, Reckless Love, and American band Steel Panther. Aesthetically glam metal draws heavily on the glam rock or glitter rock of the 1970s, often with very long backcombed hair, use of hair spray, use of make-up, gaudy clothing and accessories (chiefly consisting of tight denim or leather jeans, spandex, and headbands). The visual aspects of glam metal appealed to music television producers, particularly MTV, whose establishment coincided with the rise of the genre. Glam metal performers became infamous for their debauched lifestyles of drugs, strippers and late-night parties, which were widely covered in the tabloid press. Here are all of the best Glam Metal Bassists of all time ranked.

See more: The Best Drummers Of All Time Ranked

See more: The Best Guitarists Of All Time Ranked

20. Sami Yaffa

“I think it’s about time Sami stands front and center for his OWN project for a change. I’ve seen him more than any other ember of Hanoi Rocks because he’s always holding down the bass for everyone else. Sami Yaffa is a Finnish bass guitarist best known for his work in New York Dolls, Michael Monroe’s bands, and Hanoi Rocks. “

19. Vinnie Chas

“Vinnie Chas is best remembered as the original bassist for popular Los Angeles glam metal band, Pretty Boy Floyd.  The band was one of the top draws along Hollywood’s storied Sunset Strip during a time when bands like Guns ‘N Roses, Ratt and Poison also played the same clubs.”

18. Dana Strum

“Dana Strum is rock bassist whose career spans over 45 years. He is best known for his work with rock band Slaughter. He first achieved fame as a member of the Vinnie Vincent Invasion along with future Slaughter bandmate Mark Slaughter.”

18. Rachel Bolan

“If Rachel Bolan is going to release his punk rock / glam solo album one day I’m going to be the happiest person on the planet. Not to mention a book. C’mon, Rachel, you’re not getting any younger and you’re such a creative dude.”

16. Jerry Dixon

“Jerry Lawrence Dixon is an American musician, and one of the original members of the 1980s rock band Warrant. Dixon started playing the bass guitar at 13 years of age. His first bass was a used Sears model that he had purchased from a friend for $30.”

15. Bobby Dall

“Robert Harry Kuykendall, also known as Bobby Dall, is an American musician best known as the bassist for the multi-platinum selling rock band Poison. The band has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and has sold 15 million records in the United States alone.”

14. Kip Winger

“Kip is an extremely talented musician. I think his looks kept him from being taken too seriously. Which is a shame. His music does not cater to the record companies. He writes songs from the heart. He is not a sell out.”

13. Rick Savage

“Richard Savage is an English musician best known for being the bass guitarist and one of the founding members of the English rock band Def Leppard. Savage and lead singer Joe Elliott are the only two remaining original members of the band.”

12. Juan Croucier

“Croucier played with Dokken for about four years and toured Germany with the band several times. He was a member of both Ratt and Dokken simultaneously for approximately 18 months before leaving Dokken. He played and sang backup on Dokken’s Breaking the Chains album, and co-wrote two songs. His replacement, Jeff Pilson, appears in the title track video from the album.”

11. Kelly Nickels

“He started out in a band called Sweet Pain in New York, and released one album with them in 1985. He was also in bands called Virgin Steele and Angels in Vain in the mid-1980’s. After Sweet Pain disbanded, he joined Faster Pussycat.”

10. Blackie Lawless

“Steven Edward Duren, better known by his stage name Blackie Lawless, is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band W.A.S.P. Blackie is a unique a person as well as his voice. I find him an exceptionally talented musician.”

9. Eric Brittingham

“Eric Brittingham (born May 8, 1960) is an American bass guitarist best known for playing in the band Cinderella. Since 1982, Eric has played bass exclusively with the band “Cinderella”. He has recorded bass and offered backing vocals on all four records to date”

8. Nikki Sixx

“Nikki Sixx is an American musician, best known as the co-founder, bassist, and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister bandmate Lizzie Grey.”

7. Jeff Pilson

“Jeffrey Steven Pilson is an American musician best known for being the bass player in the glam metal band Dokken and currently classic rock band Foreigner. He has also had an extended stint with Dio in the 1990s”

6. Michael Anthony

“Michael Anthony Sobolewski is an American musician who was the bassist and backing vocalist for the hard rock band Van Halen from 1974 to 2006. He performed on Van Halen’s first 11 albums and was their longest-tenured bassist.”

5. Rudy Sarzo

“Rudy Sarzo is nothing less than a legend on the bass guitar. His more than 35 years in music includes membership of awesome bands like Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, White Snake, DIO, Blue Öyster Cult and many others. He has played on a number of records that have sold in excess of 30 million copies.”

4. Duff McKagan

“Best-known for his role in the hard rock icons Guns N’ Roses, Duff McKagan provided bass for some of the most revered albums in the metal canon and continued a life in music after GNR’s initial early-’90s combustion.”

3. Steve Harris

“Harris has a recognisable and popular style of bass playing, particularly the “gallop” which can be found on many Iron Maiden recordings, such as the singles “Run to the Hills” and “The Trooper”. In addition to his role as the band’s bass player, writer and backing vocalist, he has undertaken many other roles for the group, such as producing and co-producing their albums, directing and editing their live videos and performing studio keyboards and synthesisers. He has been cited as one of the greatest heavy metal bassists.”

2. Billy Sheehan

“William Sheehan is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for playing the bass guitar with acts such as Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin, and The Winery Dogs.”

1. Gene Simmons

“Gene’s is a great example of what one can do to succeed in the United States. He’s definitely outspoken but I admire the drive. Kiss was not an over night success. Never giving up, not getting into drugs & alcohol & making tough but necessary decisions is what got him where he is.”